National Day Reception
for the 84th Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan
December 12, 2017

On December 12, prior to the 84th Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan on December 23, Ambassador Kimihiro Ishikane and Mrs. Ishikane hosted a reception to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. The reception was attended by distinguished guests including Ms. Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade, as well as Mr. Terry Sheehan, Member of the House of Commons and Co-Chair of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, and Hon. Victor Oh, Senator and Vice-Chair of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group. Approximately 340 guests attended the reception from a variety of fields including Canadian federal government officials, Senators, Members of Parliament, heads of diplomatic missions, academics, cultural groups, and local businesses.

Following the Canadian and Japanese national anthems, Ambassador Ishikane delivered his opening remarks, mentioning 3 prominent Canadian figures who contributed significantly to Japan-Canada relations, namely, the late Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Governor General Julie Payette, and current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. As well, Ambassador Ishikane pointed out the importance of Japan and Canada, both sharing fundamental values, to further strengthen their relations through both bilateral and multilateral contexts in the current difficult global scene. Ambassador Ishikane also noted the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Canada and Canada’s G7 presidency in 2018, as well as Japan’s G20 presidency in 2019 and the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, all as further opportunities to deepen the bonds between the two countries. Ambassador Ishikane also introduced to the audience the logo for the 90th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Canada.

Parliamentary Secretary Goldsmith-Jones expressed her congratulations on the Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and went on to say that Canada regards Japan as one of its strongest allies and knows that Japan’s role as a stable democracy in the Asia-Pacific Region is vital to Canada’s own economic future. She also expressed hope for building on existing cooperation in areas such as security, trade, and people-to-people exchange and working together with Japan as neighboring Pacific nations. Mr. Terry Sheehan also delivered a congratulatory remark upon the Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and underlined the importance of partnership between Japan and Canada in the G7 context, referring to Canada’s G7 presidency in 2018 and that of Japan in 2016.

Parliamentary Secretary Goldsmith-Jones, MP Sheehan and Senator Oh then joined Ambassador Ishikane in Kagami-biraki, a ceremony often performed in Japan to celebrate the start of a new departure in life or business.

At the reception, Mr. Okumura, Chef of Ambassador Ishikane, served the guests Nigirizushi (hand-shaped sushi). Many kinds of sake from different regions in Japan were also served. A tasting booth for newly-harvested Japanese rice and apples was also set up, along with booths by Japanese companies and organization. On stage, an ikebana arrangement by Ms. Anne Breau, President of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana in Ottawa graced the reception.

Ambassador Ishikane, Mrs. Ishikane and Ms. Goldsmith-Jones , Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade

Welcome remarks by Ambassador Ishikane

Speech by Ms. Goldsmith-Jones

Speech by Mr. Sheehan, M.P., Co-Chair of Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group